The Princess Plan

The Princess Plan- Julia London
HQN Books
Release Date: November 19, 2019

Rating:
📚📚

Synopsis: Nothing gets the tongues of London’s high society wagging like a good scandal. And when the personal secretary of the visiting Prince Sebastian of Alucia is found murdered, it’s all anyone can talk about, including Eliza Tricklebank. Her unapologetic gossip gazette has benefited from an anonymous tip about the crime, prompting Sebastian to take an interest in playing detective—and an even greater interest in Eliza.

With a trade deal on the line and mounting pressure to secure a noble bride, there’s nothing more salacious than a prince dallying with a commoner. Sebastian finds Eliza’s contrary manner as frustrating as it is seductive, but they’ll have to work together if they’re going to catch the culprit. And when things heat up behind closed doors, it’s the prince who’ll have to decide what comes first—his country or his heart.

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A Pride and Prejudice/Cinderella-type story, The Princess Plan features as its' heroine Eliza: a spinster with a bit of a scandalous past who lives quietly at home, taking care of her blind father and living vicariously through her sister and best friend.  When her friend gets Eliza into a masquerade ball, all she wants is to see the crown prince of Alucia, and maybe say hello, so that she has one shining moment in her life to remember.  A few twists and turns later, she and Prince Sebastian are in love and trying to solve a murder.

Eliza is a refreshingly unconventional heroine. A spinster at 28, she has accepted her place in life and doesn't worry about her reputation, or what society thinks she should say, act, or do in any given situation,  She says what she thinks and acts according to her own beliefs instead of society's. Sebastian is at first appalled, then intrigued, then fascinated by this strange woman- she offers no deference to him merely because he's a prince and doesn't bow and scrape like everyone else.  When he acts like a jerk, she calls him on it- even throwing him out of her house because of his rudeness.  As might be expected, the very things about Eliza that drive him crazy are what appeal to Sebastian,  and they fall in love without intending to.

While you might expect the murder of Sebastian's friend and secretary to become the focus of the book, sadly the murder gets pushed to the side in order for our hero and heroine to spend the most time possible bemoaning their situation in life and their futile love.  Readers, as well as Sebastian, go for chapters barely remembering that they are trying to discover a murderer and possible plot against the crown, Sebastian, when he remembers, almost doesn't care because he is so miserable about being a prince who can't marry the woman he loves.  While readers might expect that from Eliza, who doesn't have the power to change anything, I was rather hoping Sebastian would grow a spine and figure out how to solve things long before he actually does.  If not in regards to Eliza, at least regarding his friend's murderer, who is rather obvious.

As much as I enjoyed Eliza- a quick witted and completely natural, delightful woman- I never warmed up to Sebastian.  I never felt any chemistry between them and had a hard time with how stilted and unnatural the relationship felt. We don't learn much about Sebastian's country, Alucia, the rebellions mentioned, or the trade agreements he is working so hard on with England- none of that seems to matter much and is merely background to let him be a prince, and thus, in a difficult marriage position. Julia London's writing style is light, charming, and witty, always a pleasure to read, but I had trouble staying interested in the characters and plot, and felt like it dragged a bit.  I found The Princess Plan a bit of a slog to read, but I'm hoping that was just me and others will enjoy it more.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Convenient Fiction

A Convenient Fiction (Parish Orphans of Devon 3)- Mimi Matthews
Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: October 22, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: It's been three years since Laura Hayes's father died, leaving her and her invalid brother to subsist on the income from the family's failing perfume business. But time is swiftly running out. What she needs is a husband, and fast. A noble gentleman who can rescue them all from penury. When a mysterious stranger arrives in the village, he seems a perfect candidate. But Alex Archer is no hero. In fact, he just might be the opposite.

Alex has no tolerance for sentiment. He's returned to England for one reason only: to find a wealthy wife. A country-bred heiress in Surrey seems the perfect target. But somewhere between the village railway station and the manor house his mercenary plan begins to unravel. And it's all the fault of Laura Hayes--a lady as unsuitable as she is enchanting.

From the beaches of Margate to the lavender fields of Provence, a grudging friendship slowly blossoms into something more. But when scandal threatens, can a man who has spent his entire life playing the villain, finally become a hero? Or will the lure of easy riches once again outweigh the demands of his heart?

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Mimi Matthews continues her Parish Orphans of Devon series with Alex Archer- the orphan who disappeared as a child and no one knew if he was alive or dead, or why he left.  Now Alex is all grown up, has a well-earned reputation as a gambler, and a plan to marry an heiress and settle down somewhere in England so that he can finally feel like he belongs.  His plans fall apart when he meets Laura Hayes, an impoverished perfumer's daughter trying desperately to hold onto what her family has left.  Two people used to being in control of themselves begin to lose control with their first meeting- and it may be the best thing that ever happened to them.

Laura is a strongly-written heroine: she's strong, independent, and controls the failing resources left to her family.  She's learned not to rely on anyone but herself to get things done.  Of course, this means she doesn't give her younger brother a chance to learn how to help- or even how serious the situation is- and she's at the mercy of a lawyer who doesn't have her family's best interests at heart even as he controls the finances.  Until Alex appears on the scene Laura would never think of sharing her burdens, even as she drowns under them.   Alex is more of an enigma, being all things to all people, and creating convenient fictions about his past to cover up what he sees as his past villainy.  He believes he can't be trusted when push comes to shove.  When the going gets tough he'll start going.  A large part of him seems to still be the boy who ran away from Devon: hurting, lonely, and believing there are things that can't be shared, even with those you consider family.  He plans to marry an heiress with a good estate and instantly become part of a community but Laura sees what it is he is really looking for: a family. 

Matthews does a lovely job describing the Surrey country-side, and later the French countryside, and her research into bathing resorts in Victorian times comes through perfectly.  Her main characters are well-rounded, flawed and fully human, full of complex emotions, hopes, and dreams.  Her secondary characters are a bit more uneven and under-developed and a few strings are left hanging, but overall, the story and the characters work.  While readers may enjoy reading the first two books of the series (The Matrimonial Advertisement, A Modest Independence) before this one, Fiction can also stand on its own and you won't be lost starting here.  Although you will probably finish this and feel the need to read the rest of the series just to stay in Matthews' world a bit longer. 

A Convenient Fiction is a lovely book that will whisk readers away to 1860s England and make them glad they visited.  

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Sexy Dare

Sexy Dare (Sexy Series Book 1)- Carly Phillips
Amazon Digital Services
Release Date: October 15, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Billionaire nightclub owner Jason Dare doesn’t stand a chance. From the moment he lays eyes on the luscious blonde stuck on the side of the road and realizes she’s in danger, he goes from playboy to bodyguard. 

Faith Lancaster’s sweet body won’t come to any harm on his watch. And watch Faith he does. He can’t take his eyes off her. Jason will stop at nothing to keep Faith safe. Even if it means moving her into his apartment and letting her into his once private life.

Hiding from her past, Faith has spent the last year building her candy business into a profitable company while keeping to herself and staying under the radar … until she meets the delicious Mr. Dare. Alpha and irresistible, he awakens desires she has long denied. It doesn’t take her long to succumb to his charms and fall hard for the man.

They both have their reasons for keeping things casual but when Faith’s past catches up with her, can Jason finally claim the woman meant to be his?

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Jason Dare might try to hold himself apart from people and keep his emotions walled up, but he doesn't stand a chance when he meets Faith Lancaster.  A woman trying to start a candy business and avoid a drug-addicted, stalking, violent brother, Faith keeps herself apart to protect others from the mess that is her life.  But the chemistry between Jason and Faith- even standing on the side of the road changing a flat tire- is instant and not something that should be ignored.  Jason may tell himself he wants to be alone, but right from the beginning he does everything he can to keep Faith safe- and a part of his life.

Jason's response to the emotional travails of his life is to keep himself to himself.  Better to not let anyone in and risk losing them.  It doesn't occur to him that this is a losing goal as his extended family marries and has kids, thus adding to the people he loves.  He makes the traditional alpha male mistake of thinking he can control his emotions and therefore his life.  Until Faith comes into his life, he doesn't even seem to realize what he's missing.  Faith is a delightful girl-next-store type.  Not super-model sexy, not exotic, but real and relatable.  She's starting a new life in a new city, building a new business, and trying to stay under her drug-adict brother's radar.  She's faced emotional and physical challenges, but she never cuts herself off from the world.  She looks towards the future and hopes for the day when she'll be safe to have friendships, romance, even family of her own.  I loved Faith from the beginning- her independence and strength mixed with her common sense and humor.  The instant attraction between Faith and Jason felt real, it never felt like there was anything overly contrived about their relationship or even how Jason pretty much swoops in and takes over security for Faith.  He's a whirlwind who doesn't look too closely at the reasons why he's running to Faith's rescue.  

Sexy Dare can be read as a standalone book, the start of a new series, and a part of Carly Phillips' Dare Series. You don't need to have read any of the Dare books to follow and enjoy Sexy Dare, although as a series regular I thought it was fun to see a few Dare siblings have cameo appearances- along with another great moment when a Dare sibling faces off with their serial-cheating father. This was a fun, light book with tons of chemistry and will leave you happily looking for some candy to go with it.

I received an ARC of this book from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review

Edison

Edison- Edmund Morris
Random House
Release Date: October 22, 2019

Rating:
📚📚

Synopsis: Although Thomas Alva Edison was the most famous American of his time, and remains an international name today, he is mostly remembered only for the gift of universal electric light. His invention of the first practical incandescent lamp 140 years ago so dazzled the world—already reeling from his invention of the phonograph and dozens of other revolutionary devices—that it cast a shadow over his later achievements. In all, this near-deaf genius patented 1,093 inventions, not including others, such as the X-ray fluoroscope, that he left unlicensed for the benefit of medicine.  

One of the achievements of this staggering new biography, the first major life of Edison in more than twenty years, is that it portrays the unknown Edison—the philosopher, the futurist, the chemist, the botanist, the wartime defense adviser, the founder of nearly 250 companies—as fully as it deconstructs the Edison of mythological memory. Edmund Morris, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, brings to the task all the interpretive acuity and literary elegance that distinguished his previous biographies of Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and Ludwig van Beethoven. A trained musician, Morris is especially well equipped to recount Edison’s fifty-year obsession with recording technology and his pioneering advances in the synchronization of movies and sound. Morris sweeps aside conspiratorial theories positing an enmity between Edison and Nikola Tesla and presents proof of their mutually admiring, if wary, relationship.  

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Thomas Alva Edison, known today primarily as the inventor of the lightbulb, spent his life researching, experimenting, and inventing devices in nearly every scientific field available to him over the course of his life.  Edmund Morris' new biography takes a thoroughly-researched, detailed look into these aspects of Edison's life, hoping to leave readers (perhaps) with the sense of Edison as a Renaissance Man who unceasingly explored the world around him.  The reader learns of Edison's tireless efforts to perfect phonograph recordings (although deaf himself), his proficiency with Morse code, as well as the creation of inventions that, even after Morris described them, I had no idea what they were for or what they did.  

That is one of the issues I had with Edison.  In his push to show the reader all of the work Edison did, Morris overwhelms the reader with scientific information in some places and underwhelms the reader in others.  The main problem I had with Edison however, is that it is written backwards.  Starting with his death in 1931, each part of the book covers about ten years of Edison's life, retreating backwards in time until he's born in 1847.  This often made the reading choppy and the biography's progression difficult to follow.  Partnerships, inventions, lawsuits, and personal relationships end before they begin and often Morris has to refer the reader to later parts in the book to cover the beginning of something he's now talking about ending.   If there was a reason for writing the book that way, I couldn't tell what it was- except a desire to experiment and do something different.  In this case different was certainly memorable, but not, for me, in a good way.

Glimpses of Edison the man manage to show through Edison the scientist or Edison the businessman but those glimpses don't give the reader much of an impression of who he was or what made him the way he was. The impressions we do get show us a perfectionist, a tyrant, and a control freak. Meeting Edison like this at the end of his life, I have a hard time knowing if I didn't like this book because I didn't like Edison as a person, and had no investment in who he would become or what he would do with his life because I saw it from the end on, or if it was the book itself.  

Not a book I'd recommend for any but the most fervent of Edison admirers, and even then, I strongly recommend reading the book from end to beginning to try and make some sense out of it.   

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Archangel's War

Archangel's War (Guild Hunter #12 )- Nalini Singh
Berkley/Penguin Group
Release Date: September 24, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

Synopsis: Wings of silver. Wings of blue. Mortal heart. Broken dreams. Shatter. Shatter. Shatter. A sundering. A grave. I see the end. I see. . . .

The world is in chaos as the power surge of the Cascade rises to a devastating crescendo. In furiously resisting its attempts to turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael’s power, Elena and her archangel are irrevocably changed. . .far beyond the prophecy of a cursed Ancient.

At the same time, violent and eerie events around the world threaten to wipe out entire populations. And in the Archangel Lijuan’s former territory, an unnatural fog weaves through the land, leaving only a bone-chilling silence in its wake. Soon it becomes clear that even the archangels are not immune to this deadly evil. This time, even the combined power of the Cadre may not be enough. . . .

This war could end them all.

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If you're like me, and you've been waiting for this book since October 30, 2018 when you put down Archangel's Prophecy than you have already guessed- there's no way to avoid at least some spoilers in reviewing Archangel's War. If you are new to the series, put down this book and at least read Prophecy before coming back.  You'll be pretty lost on some major issues otherwise.

With that out of the way, Archangel's War does not disappoint those of us who have been waiting desperately to find out what was happening to Elena.  The last time we saw her, she and Raphael were fighting a prophecy that would turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael's increasing power.  And there was the whole chrysalis thing at the end.  Without giving away details, sorting that out is a big part of War (to the surprise of no one. It was kind of a big deal). 

The Cascade has awakened new Ancients before their time, China is a horror movie waiting to happen (hopefully I was not the only one seeing the Miranda scenes from Serenity playing in my head when Elena and Raphael were in China), weather across the globe has turned chaotic and deadly.  If you thought you'd seen Lijuan as creepy-crazy as possible, think again.  It would be easy for a less talented author than Singh to focus on these big picture problems and lose the people along the way.  But War balances nicely the personal issues Elena and Raphael face as they settle into their new 'normal' and the global issues the archangels as a Cadre face thanks to everyone's favorite Angel of Death. Archangels whose defining traits before this had been their oversized egos and personalities prove that they are capable of putting their egos aside and fighting together when faced with a terrible enemy.  Elena especially helps ground the story and the fighting with the people everyone fights to save.  Fans will be happy that Dimitri, Illium, and the rest of the Seven each get some action- and will certainly love one of the personal moments between Illium, Aodhan, and the Hummingbird when we learn that even powerful and deadly angels can be reduced to guilty children by a mom like the Hummingbird.

Once again, Nalini Singh exceeds all expectations for her Guild Hunters series.  Her world-building skills are top-notch, her pacing of the story a perfect blend of war and stolen personal moments. Fans will rejoice in this newest, much anticipated, release- Nalini Singh doesn't disappoint!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Immortal City

The Immortal City (Magicians of Venice)- Amy Kulvalainen
BHC Press
Release Date: September 19, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: In the heart of Venice, a woman is sacrificed to a forgotten god, sparking a mystery lost for thousands of years.

Dr. Penelope Bryne is ridiculed by the academic community for her quest to find the remnants of Atlantis, but when an ancient and mysterious script is found at a murder site, she flies to Venice determined to help the police before the killer strikes again.

Penelope has spent her entire life trying to ignore the unexplainable and magical history of Atlantis, but when she meets the enigmatic Alexis Donato, everything she believes will be challenged. Little does she know, Alexis has spent the last three years doing his best to sabotage Penelope's career so doesn't learn the truth--Atlantis had seven magicians who survived, and who he has a duty to protect.

As Alexis draws her into the darkly, seductive world of magic and history, Penelope will have to use her heart as well as her head if she is to find the answers she seeks. 

With the new MOSE system due to come online, and Carnivale exploding around them, Penelope and Alexis will have to work together to stop the killer and prevent dark magic from pulling Venice into the sea.

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Dr Penelope Byrne has become a pariah on the outskirts of the academic world, ridiculed for her theories on the lost island of Atlantis.  When symbols appear at a Venetian murder scene that match symbols she believes belong to Atlantis, Penelope goes to help the investigation.  But she doesn't come close to the truth until meeting the mysterious Alexis Donavato.  He may be able to help find the murderer, but only by exposing new secrets: that the city of Venice, and the rest of the world, are in danger from an evil Alexis thought drown with Atlantis ten thousand years ago.

Penelope is a strong, stubborn woman who refuses to stay down when her parents, her colleagues, and the academic world knock her down.  She thinks of herself as an ordinary, risk-adverse person, but can't deny the part of her imagination that wishes magic and dreams were real, and that there is something special she is supposed to do with her life.  So when a Venetian detective asks for her help on a case, Pen is on a flight to Venice before she thinks about it.  Penelope is a wonderful heroine- pragmatic, logical, yet a dreamer with an open mind about the world around her.  She accepts that things aren't always what they seem, and more importantly, she accepts that love and fate can arrive when they are least expected. She wasn't looking for a man, but when she meets Alexis she is willing to accept that not all life's plans fall out the way we expect.

Alexis is a man who takes things seriously: protect his people, protect Atlantis' secrets, and stay away from mortals.  He's seen death and destruction so often over the years he can't see himself as anything but a jaded warrior.  But Penelope gets under his skin before he knows what's happened, and he is helpless to deny the incredible pull between them.  As he helps Penelope solve the mystery that brought her to Venice, he realizes that the threat is worse than mortals can imagine, and he and the magicians of Atlantis need to work past their fears to protect the world again.

The Immortal City is a fantastic book that gives magic lovers an entirely new world to enjoy, and leaves you waiting breathlessly to see what will happen next.  Well written, edge of your seat action, and marvelous chemistry between Alexis and Penelope kept me reading until I had devoured the book in one sitting, and was only disappointed that there wasn't a sequel out yet to go on to!  Full of delightful secondary characters that I can't wait to find out more about (I especially loved Marco and hope he shows up in more of the series! Loved his "Venetian" version of CPR at the end!), magic to learn, and pasts to explore, the Magicians of Venice promises to be a must-read series for fantasy lovers!  

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Strangers She Knows

Strangers She Knows (Cape Charade 3)- Christina Dodd
HQN Books
Release Date: September 17, 2019

Rating:
📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: I have three deadly problems:

1. I've seriously offended a maniacal killer.

2. I just had a bullet removed from my brain.

3. My new daughter is growing up too fast--and she's in the line of fire.

Living on an obscure, technology-free island off California means safety from the murderer who hunts Kellen Adams and her new family.... Or does it? Family time becomes terror-time, and at last, alone, Kellen faces a killer playing a cruel game. Only one can survive, and Kellen knows who must win...and who must die.

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After years of fighting for it, Kellen Adams is finally starting to have the life and family she always wanted.  Her only problems now consist of recovering from brain surgery and her daughter Rae growing up too fast- while Kellen is only just getting used to even having a daughter! Then Kellen and husband Max learn that their old enemy, psychotic serial killer Mara Phillips, has escaped prison and is hunting them down.  The small family moves to a tiny, technology-free island off the coast of California for safety while the professionals track Mara down.  Family time has potential for bonding time, but also for danger when Mara and a typhoon visit the island.  Kellen knows it's up to her to face Mara- and only one of them can come out of this game alive.

Strangers She Knows concludes Christina Dodd's Cape Charade series (Dead Girl Running, What Doesn't Kill Her) in intense style. The trilogy has followed Kellen Adams: Army veteran, hotel manager, and a woman who has had more than her share of hardships, danger, and surprises in life, as she becomes part of a family with Max and Rae while still balancing danger and duty. The first part of Strangers focuses mostly on Kellen getting herself back together both physically and mentally, and the three of them creating memories and bonds that they missed out on as Rae was growing up without Kellen.  This includes some humorous father-daughter bonding over repairing (or trying to) a F-100 truck, discovering the story of the previous owners of the island, and wonderful reactions to dynamite in the fridge that are classic Kellen and Max. 

 Mara Phillips (Dead Girl Running) was supposed to be locked up forever, but in true criminal mastermind fashion, Mara escapes and comes after Kellen and anyone else she believes betrayed her.  When Dodd decides to go for a crazed and disturbing villain, she comes up with a villain who will chill your blood- and Mara is definitely her crowning achievement! The last hundred or so pages of Strangers, where Mara truly sets her plans into motion, is a non-stop terrifying roller coaster of action and emotion.  

New readers won't feel completely lost since enough background is provided to Kellen's former life and Mara to keep them going, but I think readers will certainly get the most out the characters and their growth by reading the trilogy in order. And I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers when I say I hope I'm not the only one who had the ending of Jaws in the back of their minds when reading the grand finale of Strangers. Followed closely by thinking: I never saw that coming and of course that's what would happen.   Readers of suspense thrillers by Jayne Ann Krentz and J.D. Robb, and Christina Dodd's earlier thrillers, will defiantly enjoy the adventures of Strangers She Knows!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review